Prospect of the Week (3.6.12)

This season Bolt Prospects introduced our Prospect of the Week award, an honor (virtually) given to one Tampa Bay Lightning prospect for their on-ice contributions. There are no trophies or plaques, but we feel itâ€™s second only to receiving a professional contract.

We wanted to highlight prospects throughout the year to help fans get better acquainted with the next round of Lightning stars while recognizing the prospectâ€™s achievement on the ice.

What a week for Gauthier. First, the undrafted center gets a professional contract from the Tampa Bay Lightning, then he gets the BP Prospect of the Week award.

Gauthier, who is among QMJHL leaders in goals (2nd), points (9th), insurance goals (2nd), plus/minus (6th), and shots (8th), celebrated his new contract by netting six points in two games last weekend. He had one assist in a game last week prior to his contract announcement on Friday.

The 6â€™2â€ 201-pound center had three assists Friday night in a blowout win over PEI, then scored a goal and had two more helpers in Saturdayâ€™s win over Acadie-Bathurst. He was also plus-6 over those two games. Gauthier is enjoying a four-game point streak in which he has nine points and is plus-11.

Gauthier and his Saint John Sea Dogs are expected to far this playoff season, and likely will be playing in the Memorial Cup tournament (again) in Shawinigan in May. Speculation is he will start his professional career next year in the AHL.

For the year, Gauthier has 42 goals and 78 points in 61 games. He is plus-41 with 61 penalty minutes. He projects as a gritty second or third liner who is capable of sticking up for teammates and knocking in a few goals.